Posted on 02/13/2003 8:33:17 AM PST by RCW2001
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb 13, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The legendary 150-year-old handgun maker, Smith & Wesson Corp., a subsidiary of Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation ( AMEX:SWB) today introduced the largest and most powerful production revolver ever made along with eight other new products at the 2003 Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Orlando, Florida.
The new 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum(R) revolver is chambered for the new .50 caliber 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum(R) cartridge.
"The 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum is a natural progression of our leadership role in handgun development," said Roy Cuny, president and CEO of Smith & Wesson Corp. "Smith & Wesson has a strong customer contingency of hunting and shooting enthusiasts that are continually looking to us for innovation. We produced the original Magnum(R) revolver with the introduction of the .357 Magnum in 1935 and 20 years later amazed the shooting world with the .44 Magnum. Now in 2003, we have once again produced a premier hunting revolver with no equal."
The newly introduced 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum cartridge produces nearly three times the muzzle energy of the .44 Magnum round, which far exceeds all other handgun cartridges.
Based on orders to date from Smith & Wesson dealers, production on the new .50 caliber revolver has been increased. "The demand has far surpassed our original expectations," said Cuny.
Industry Response
Recently editors and writers from the firearm industry and outdoor publications previewed the new 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum revolver and the 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum cartridge at the Smith & Wesson state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Springfield, Massachusetts. "I have no doubt that within a year our members will have used this new Smith & Wesson revolver and cartridge in Africa on the world's most dangerous game", said Steve Comus, director of publications for Safari Club International.
"This firearm offers the confidence required when hunting the world's most challenging animals with a handgun," Comus concludes.
"The new Smith & Wesson Corporation has proved its capabilities, not only with the introduction of the 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum(R) revolver, but with the extensive line of products it is bringing to market in 2003," said Roy Huntington, editor of AMERICAN HANDGUNNER. "The Company, under its new leadership, has made a commitment to its core products - and to its customers."
Russ Thurman, editor of SHOOTING INDUSTRY, an industry trade publication stated, "It is exciting to see so many new products come from one manufacturer in one year. I believe dealers and consumers will find this line- up of products quite interesting."
More New Products
Smith & Wesson will also be launching the most extensive introduction of new products seen in over a decade at the 2003 SHOT Show in Orlando, Florida, February 13-16, 2003. In addition to the 500 Magnum press, dealers and distributors will see the latest in the Scandium Series revolvers, the SW1911, new rimfire revolvers and new SW99 pistols. For more information, visit the Smith & Wesson website at http://www.smith-wesson.com.
Yeah, but there are limits. Very few people can shoot a 500 Smith or 500 Linebaugh without eventually suffering joint damage. Read John Taffin's articles on the damage he has suffered, and he thought he was immune to recoil.
I can witness that a light weight .50BMG rifle will give you a concussion, and a 700 Nitro can tear a rotator cuff if shot from the bench.
Stay Safe !
Who the hell "Hunts" with a REVOLVER??? Cept for maybe Dirty Harry when he's hunting the elusive scumball.
I'm a serious supporter of the 2nd Amendment but it's statements like these that make our stance hard to defend...
If so they have gone to much higher quality steels. 
Side by side comparison of an X-frame revolver (500 magnum) to N frame.
Looks like they overengineered the N frame and came out with a monster .... I still want one though .... never know when an armored Rhino will be on your tail.
Looks like it could make an 8 shot .44 mag on that frame or a 10 or 12 shot .357mag. That is one way around the magazine capacity limit.
A 12 shot .357 would make the perfect Bianchi Cup or Bowling Pin revolver.
They also introduced an alloy "N" frame .44 mag (mod. 329) that weighs half what the steel gun weighs. That will hurt, but when they offer a (328) 8 shot .357 on that frame, I want one with a 3" barrel.
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